Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 12 Matchups to Consider
With most trade deadlines passed, fantasy managers are set with the bulk of their rosters for the remainder of the season. Without the ability to make wholesale changes going forward, the weekly lineup decisions from here on out will determine who gets a shot at winning a title and who will be left watching from the loser’s bracket. Ahead of Week 12, I’m here to work through matchups at each position that could be the difference for you this week!
As always, make use of the Start/Sit Tool on the website, ask for advice on Discord, or reach out to me via Twitter: @KurtKnowsBest.
Quarterbacks
Gardner Minshew (IND) vs Tampa Bay
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| QB17 | QB18 | QB20 |
QB15 |
The perception for Gardner Minshew is that he’s been solid for the Colts in place of the injured Anthony Richardson, but for fantasy, it’s been a rough ride. In the six games Minshew has started for Indianapolis this season, Minshew has just one top-12 QB finish, which oddly enough came against the tough Browns defense in Week 7. What we like for fantasy purposes is that Minshew has been involved in high-scoring games for the most part, with all but one game he’s started involving at least 40 total points (including three that have eclipsed 50).
If there’s a team to target with the passing game currently, the Buccaneers have to be near the top of that list. Tampa Bay has allowed the third most passing yards on the season and 7.4 yards per attempt. Those numbers have translated to fantasy success for opposing QBs as well. In their last six games, the Buccaneers have allowed four top-four QB finishes. For fantasy managers needing a solid streaming option this week, it’s likely Minshew could be nabbed off the waiver wire and provide them a solid option for Week 12.
Kurt would play Minshew over: QB16 – Sam Howell at Dallas
Jordan Love (GB) at Detroit
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| QB18 | QB17 | QB19 |
QB18 |
Don’t look now, but somehow Jordan Love is currently the QB12 on the season. While Love hasn’t been spectacular by any means, he’s been decently consistent for fantasy managers, only finishing outside the top-20 QBs once while getting inside the top 12 in six different weeks so far. Those top-12 finishes include back-to-back weeks over his last two games for just the second time this season. The biggest downside to penciling Love into fantasy lineups is while he’s provided a safe floor, he also doesn’t provide a huge ceiling with just three weeks where he’s scored more than 20 points.
If there’s a way to attack the strong Detroit Lions defense, it’s through the air. The Lions have allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards on the season, but are allowing the seventh-most passing TDs. Over their last six games, Detroit’s defense has allowed four top-10 QB finishes, including QB8 and QB2 finishes in the last two weeks. If Love is going to show he can be more than just a middling QB option, taking advantage of a good matchup on Thanksgiving Day is a good way to start.
Kurt would play Love over: QB19 – Russell Wilson vs Cleveland
Running Backs
Zach Charbonnet (SEA) vs San Francisco
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| RB26 | RB25 | RB26 | RB26 |
The time has finally come for the fantasy community to see what Seahawks rookie Zach Charbonnet can do with the bulk of the opportunities in an NFL offense. During rookie draft season, there were plenty of fantasy managers who were excited about what Charbonnet could be for fantasy since he has such a strong size-speed combination, but we haven’t really been able to see much of him with Kenneth Walker III ahead of him in Seattle. With Walker likely out on a short week, Charbonnet has a chance to follow up his first top-24 RB finish as the lead back.
Getting his first starting opportunity comes with a tough matchup against possibly the best defense in the league with San Francisco. The 49ers have allowed the second-fewest rushing yards in the league and the fifth-fewest rushing TDs while allowing just 15.6 fantasy points to opposing teams’ RBs per week. There’s still hope for Charbonnet having a productive fantasy day. Over their last five games, the 49ers have allowed three top-24 RB finishes, and two of those top-24 finishes included a TD from the RB. While expectations should be tempered because of the matchup, fantasy managers should still have Charbonnet in their lineups based on opportunity alone.
Kurt would play Charbonnet over: RB29 – AJ Dillon at Detroit
James Cook (BUF) at Philadelphia
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| RB31 | RB30 | RB31 |
RB28 |
It would seem that the change of offensive coordinator could be a benefit to James Cook’s involvement in the offense. In his first game with Joe Brady calling plays, Cook matched his season-high in opportunities with 21 combined rushing attempts targets that turned into the RB9 finish on the week. What’s most encouraging is Cook saw that much work on just 46% of snaps, so there’s definitely room for his ceiling to be raised in the coming weeks.
Getting the Eagles’ defense should be a good test for the Bills’ new offense. The Philadelphia defense is an elite defensive unit against the run in the league, allowing the fewest rushing yards and rushing TDs. While the Eagles are strong against the run, they’re still allowing decent fantasy performances from RBs. Over the last five weeks, the Eagles have allowed three top-24 RBs. Even though the matchup doesn’t seem like the best, with his increased opportunity there’s a chance he could be a solid flex play.
Kurt would play Cook over: RB30 – Alexander Mattison vs Chicago
Miles Sanders (CAR) at Tennessee
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| RB42 | RB42 | RB43 |
RB46 |
It feels like Miles Sanders may be re-establishing the balance in the split of the Carolina backfield. Sanders hasn’t seen the majority of snaps for the Panthers at RB since Week 4 and has only been a top-30 RB once during that stretch. What’s encouraging for Sanders are the 11 and 12 opportunities he’s turned into 61 and 51 yards in two of his last three games. There seems to be a window for Sanders to return to a solid flex play if he can continue to get enough opportunities in the Panthers’ offense.
The Titans’ offense has typically been a tough matchup for fantasy RBs, but they’ve allowed plenty of solid RB finishes for fantasy over their last six games. Since Week 5, Tennessee’s defense has allowed five top-24 RB finishes, including a three-week stretch where they allowed four top-24 RBs from Weeks 8-10. If the Panthers’ offense can find some rhythm, Sanders stands a chance to be a flex play this week.
Kurt would play Sanders over: RB37 – Tyler Allgeier vs New Orleans.
Wide Receivers
Rashid Shaheed (NO) at Atlanta
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| WR38 | WR39 | WR40 |
WR38 |
It’s quietly been a strong second season for Rashid Shaheed for fantasy where he currently sits as the WR36. Shaheed has been a top-12 WR three different times this season but hasn’t finished inside the top 50 in his other seven games. Shaheed is typically good for one or two long shots per week which can be all you need if he gets into the end zone. Now with Michael Thomas set to miss games, Shaheed could see an uptick in opportunity regardless of who is playing QB.
The Atlanta defense has been solid against WRs this season but is still allowing strong finishes for fantasy purposes. Over the last two weeks, they haven’t allowed a top-24 WR finish but did allow two top-six WR finishes in the two games prior. What’s encouraging for fantasy purposes is the Falcons have allowed at least 24 points in four of their last five games so Shaheed stands a decent chance at being a flex play who could be a week winner with the right big play.
Kurt would play Shaheed over: WR39 – Amari Cooper at Denver
Brandin Cooks (DAL) vs Washington
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| WR40 | WR42 | WR39 |
WR41 |
We’ve seen a bit of a rebirth for fantasy purposes over the last month for Brandin Cooks. In his last five games, Cooks has finished as a top-24 WR three different times, including the WR3 overall in Week 10. It’s no coincidence that each of Cooks’ big fantasy weeks have come with TD receptions, but without getting into the end zone, he’s been a disappointment for fantasy managers.
Getting a matchup with the Commanders’ defense has been fantasy gold over the last month. Since Week 8, Washington has allowed at least 29 points in three of four games and is allowing an average of 36.1 points to opposing fantasy teams WRs. With a 49-point over/under, this game is projected to be the highest-scoring matchup of Week 12, so there should be plenty of opportunity for Cooks to get back into fantasy relevance this week. Fantasy managers should consider Cooks a flex play with WR2 upside this week.
Kurt would play Cooks over: WR41 – Demario Douglas at NY Giants
Diontae Johnson (PIT) at Cincinnati
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| WR32 | WR32 | WR31 |
WR32 |
After finishing as a top-24 WR in three-straight weeks in his return from injury, Diontae Johnson hasn’t finished inside the top-70 WRs in the last two weeks, combining for a total of 4.8 points. The Steelers’ passing attack as a whole has been miserably bad since Week 10 with a combined 232 passing yards from starter Kenny Pickett. When it comes to Johnson specifically, he’s still among the league leaders in targets per route run, so it seems to be his environment that is affecting his fantasy relevance. Hopefully, the change made at offensive coordinator for Pittsburgh will ignite some offensive production for Johnson since we’ve seen what he’s capable of being when used properly.
While the Bengals aren’t necessarily a defense to target with WRs, over the last three weeks they’ve given up plenty of fantasy production to the position for a total of 110.3 points. During that stretch, Cincinnati has allowed four top-24 WRs including three top-12 finishes at the position. If there’s enough positive change coming to the Pittsburgh offense, Johnson should be a player fantasy managers can count on this week.
Kurt would play Johnson over: WR29 – Tyler Lockett vs San Francisco
Tight Ends
Dalton Schultz (HOU) vs Jacksonville
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| TE8 | TE9 | TE8 |
TE8 |
It’s been quite a run for Dalton Schultz since Week 4. Over his last seven games, Schultz has finished as the TE9 or better in six games and has caught a TD in five of them. Schultz is seeing plenty of targets to keep him relevant in what’s become one of the best offenses to have fantasy pieces in, averaging six targets per game during his hot run. Maybe the only cause for concern for Schultz on the season is his lackluster average depth of target that’s sitting at just 7.4 yards which still ranks eighth in the league among TEs with at least 25 receptions.
When you look at the stats for the Jaguars’ defense against fantasy TEs it may look like they’re a tough matchup for the position. However, whenever Jacksonville has taken on a team with a strong receiving TE, they’re actually giving up plenty of points to the position. The only three weeks the Jaguars have allowed more than 10 fantasy points to opposing teams’ TEs were against Kansas City, Atlanta, and San Francisco – all of whom involve their TEs in their offense to a high degree. In fact, in those three games, Jacksonville allowed TE4, TE3, and TE1 finishes on the week. Despite his poor game against them earlier this season, I’d be playing Schultz in my TE spot confidently in Week 12.
Kurt would play Schultz over: TE7 – Evan Engram at Houston
Kyle Pitts (ATL) vs New Orleans
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| TE14 | TE14 | TE14 |
TE15 |
Another season full of hope for the Kyle Pitts breakout season may be watching the sun set. Pitts has only finished inside the top-12 TEs twice on the season, despite seeing nearly six targets per game and leading the league’s TEs with at least 25 receptions in average depth of target. With Atlanta returning to Desmond Ridder for their Week 12 game against the Saints, there isn’t much hope that any increase in the passing game is coming for Pitts and the other Atlanta receiving options.
In their last two games, the Saints have been unusually bad against opposing TEs, allowing the TE1 and TE2 finishes in Weeks 10 and 9 respectively. Between those two games, New Orleans allowed 17 receptions for 189 yards and three TDs between the two TEs. Outside of their last two games though, the Saints have been very good against TEs, only allowing more than 10 points two other times this season to the position. Fantasy managers shouldn’t be willing to bet that the bad play against TEs is something that’s going to continue, especially with the uncertainty in QB play from the Falcons.
Kurt would prefer to play: TE16 – Cade Otton vs Indianapolis
Comments
I was hoping for a Engram v. McBride comparison.